September 21, 2025Sep 21 Popular Post Picture courtesy of Unsplash | via The Thaiger The Thai Excise Department has launched a thrilling new tax on vintage cars, part of an exciting plan designed to boost tourism by allowing these classic beauties on the road during weekends and public holidays. Kulaya Tantitemit, the department's Director General, confirmed the focus remains on becoming a hub for electric vehicles (EVs) through initiatives like EV 3.0 and EV 3.5. This dual approach targets eco-friendly innovation and nostalgic charm to drive economic growth. From March 2022 to August 2025, a remarkable 233,802 electric cars and 71,667 electric motorbikes have hit the roads, thanks to 31 eager manufacturers participating in the EV schemes. Special excise tax incentives are being offered, slashing rates from 8% to 2% for EVs, with penalties looming for those missing factory commitments. The December 31, 2025 deadline looms large for compliance, while some manufacturers continue to lag. The new 45% vintage car tax aims to establish Thailand as a dream destination for vintage car enthusiasts. Vehicles over 30 years old will sport eye-catching registration plates, distinguishing them from others. For entertainment venues, the tax rate remains halved to boost tourism, originally set to expire in 2024, but now extended until the end of 2025. The Thai Excise Department's revenue has surged, with collections rising sharply from 138.77 million baht in 2023 to 199.73 million baht by August 2025. Adding to this, the department is supporting local liquor production as part of Thailand’s strategic aim at enhancing the Soft Power image, and an exciting craft beer regulation relaxation is expected in December 2025. In a promising financial trajectory, the Excise Department hauled in over 489,564.14 million baht in excise taxes from October 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, a 1.61% increase. Their target for 2025 is set optimistically at 535,000 million baht. Key Takeaways: Thailand introduces a 45% tax on vintage cars to boost tourism. EV manufacturers have until December 2025 to meet production commitments. Excise Department extends reduced tax rate for entertainment venues until 2025. Related Stories: Read more THailand News here Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-09-22
September 22, 2025Sep 22 Popular Post 42 minutes ago, webfact said: "Thailand introduces a 45% tax on vintage cars to boost tourism." I am at an absolute loss as to how this will boost tourism. Is this just a word salad nonsense effort from TAT? What am I missing?
September 22, 2025Sep 22 Popular Post How??? How is dropping the tax on vintage cars going to make any difference to tourism? Do they plan to allow 'easier' access for vintage car enthusiasts to bring their vehicles on holiday with them? I'm guessing that the paperwork will not be a walk in the park and the backhanders for the customs officials should cover any savings that any tax drop would offer. More to the point, who is being paid to come up with these hair-brained ideas?
September 22, 2025Sep 22 Popular Post Dammit, wish I hadn't sold my old Vauxhall Victor before I came to Thailand now.
September 22, 2025Sep 22 8 minutes ago, edwinchester said: Dammit, wish I hadn't sold my old Vauxhall Victor before I came to Thailand now. I trump you with an Allegro with a warped head.
September 22, 2025Sep 22 Popular Post 7 minutes ago, quake said: Just one more brain fart. Wrong. The brain fart was the 300% taxes on secondhand imports that then moved to outright banning of secondhand imports. 45% taxes on 30+yr old cars importation is a step in the right direction.
September 22, 2025Sep 22 Just now, Ralf001 said: Wrong. The brain fart was the 300% taxes on secondhand imports that then moved to outright banning of secondhand imports. 45% taxes on 30+yr old cars importation is a step in the right direction. Wrong it was all about emissions.
September 22, 2025Sep 22 Popular Post 3 minutes ago, quake said: Wrong it was all about emissions. Utter nonsense.
September 22, 2025Sep 22 Popular Post 22 minutes ago, quake said: Just one more brain fart. Brain???? Any farts in the area would be implosion not explosion the result of the vacuum.
September 22, 2025Sep 22 The devil is in the detail. None of the cars specifically mentioned up to this post are eligible.
September 22, 2025Sep 22 Popular Post I imagine someone influential wanted to bring vintage cars to Thailand so they had to figure out a way to justify lowering the tax.
September 23, 2025Sep 23 and 45% is a fair amount ? it's unclear to me why the govt thinks it owns half the value of the vehicle - is there any logic behind this ?
September 23, 2025Sep 23 Desperate times calls for desperate action. Personally though, I have never found anything done by the taxman to be "Thrilling"
September 23, 2025Sep 23 On 9/22/2025 at 8:14 AM, Ralf001 said: Wrong. The brain fart was the 300% taxes on secondhand imports that then moved to outright banning of secondhand imports. 45% taxes on 30+yr old cars importation is a step in the right direction. If wanting to import an old car, yes. A giant step. For tourism? Totally irrelevant.
September 23, 2025Sep 23 Don't forget the car has to be worth 2M baht overseas, and whether the Thai revenue department agree to that valuation is at their sole discretion. So most of what you might want to import won't qualify.
September 23, 2025Sep 23 On 9/22/2025 at 9:38 AM, ricklev said: I imagine someone influential wanted to bring vintage cars to Thailand so they had to figure out a way to justify lowering the tax. It's also likely that someone already has, and now they want to get them registered.
September 23, 2025Sep 23 What if the 45% duty actually is an increase? From zero. This issue is really hard du research, and forget AI. But I found this page from a shipping company, proclaiming that the current duty is zero. Anyone have any personal experience with importing cars older than 30 years? https://www.wcshipping.com/blog/asean-tariff-wars-thailands-30-year-rule-vs.-malaysias-protectionism
September 23, 2025Sep 23 On 9/22/2025 at 7:57 AM, Bert got kinky said: I trump you with an Allegro with a warped head. That would have been right at home here
September 23, 2025Sep 23 17 minutes ago, rick44 said: What if the 45% duty actually is an increase? From zero. This issue is really hard du research, and forget AI. But I found this page from a shipping company, proclaiming that the current duty is zero. Anyone have any personal experience with importing cars older than 30 years? https://www.wcshipping.com/blog/asean-tariff-wars-thailands-30-year-rule-vs.-malaysias-protectionism ..continued research... in Thai. It seems to have been about 100 percent, according to a normally reliable business publication. https://www.prachachat.net/prachachat-hilight/news-1766383
September 23, 2025Sep 23 Is this import duty? 45% of what? Then presumably add 7% VAT There is a thriving business in Malaysia restoring classic cars which could be done here if not for the insane taxes.
September 23, 2025Sep 23 On 9/21/2025 at 8:00 PM, Mike_Hunt said: Who dreamed up this idea. Someone who is clueless?
September 23, 2025Sep 23 Previously, personal importation of cars was not permitted. If I wanted to do this I would pick a car that costs me 3M baht on the open market, and one whose value has to be impossible to challenge that it’s under 2M, add on the freight and other charges 500K, 45% tax 1.575M, sub total 5.075 then VAT on that Almost 5.5M Then you can only drive it on weekends and holidays. Not a great idea!
September 23, 2025Sep 23 I'm at a loss, I don't know if many people will import any vintage cars, but just how many tourists will come to see said cars...can someone explain the logic. Wait, silly me, Thais and logic...555
September 23, 2025Sep 23 What about insurance. I asked for vintage insurance and was told. 1. The car has to be garaged. 2. it can only be used on the road going to or from a display or exibition. 3. It cannot be used just to drive around.
September 27, 2025Sep 27 On 9/22/2025 at 12:35 AM, webfact said: Picture courtesy of Unsplash | via The Thaiger The Thai Excise Department has launched a thrilling new tax on vintage cars, part of an exciting plan designed to boost tourism by allowing these classic beauties on the road during weekends and public holidays. Kulaya Tantitemit, the department's Director General, confirmed the focus remains on becoming a hub for electric vehicles (EVs) through initiatives like EV 3.0 and EV 3.5. This dual approach targets eco-friendly innovation and nostalgic charm to drive economic growth. From March 2022 to August 2025, a remarkable 233,802 electric cars and 71,667 electric motorbikes have hit the roads, thanks to 31 eager manufacturers participating in the EV schemes. Special excise tax incentives are being offered, slashing rates from 8% to 2% for EVs, with penalties looming for those missing factory commitments. The December 31, 2025 deadline looms large for compliance, while some manufacturers continue to lag. The new 45% vintage car tax aims to establish Thailand as a dream destination for vintage car enthusiasts. Vehicles over 30 years old will sport eye-catching registration plates, distinguishing them from others. For entertainment venues, the tax rate remains halved to boost tourism, originally set to expire in 2024, but now extended until the end of 2025. The Thai Excise Department's revenue has surged, with collections rising sharply from 138.77 million baht in 2023 to 199.73 million baht by August 2025. Adding to this, the department is supporting local liquor production as part of Thailand’s strategic aim at enhancing the Soft Power image, and an exciting craft beer regulation relaxation is expected in December 2025. In a promising financial trajectory, the Excise Department hauled in over 489,564.14 million baht in excise taxes from October 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, a 1.61% increase. Their target for 2025 is set optimistically at 535,000 million baht. Key Takeaways: Thailand introduces a 45% tax on vintage cars to boost tourism. EV manufacturers have until December 2025 to meet production commitments. Excise Department extends reduced tax rate for entertainment venues until 2025. Related Stories: Read more THailand News here Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-09-22 Of all the crazy schemes the Thai authorities have come up with this century, it has to be just about the whackiest.
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